KATE Conference 2017 (reflective post)
For attending my first ever Kansas Association of Teachers of English (KATE) Conference, all I can say is what a blast I had. It was truly amazing to learn from an eclectic band of teachers, educators, and authors. All of their insights seemed to broach old topics I’ve reflected on in a new way. For example, who would have guessed to implement a serialized podcast as a substitute for a whole-class read to further engagement? I didn’t, and with that notion all I can say is that the KATE Conference surprised me session after session. Before divulging into the sessions I attended, I want to make a few notes about the conference’s aesthetic and professionalism. The overall structure of the conference was calm, elegant, and concise. Due to a wonderfully paced agenda, time never felt wasted or prolonged: the sessions all started and ended according to plan. In regards to the professionalism, everybody I met at the conference welcomed my questions and appearance with open, warm, and cons...